Question about Rubbin and Polishing Compound

[SilveradoHorseshoer]

Hi,

I have a 2002 PT Cruiser that I am trying to clean up to sell. I have some pretty bad oxidation on the hood and roof that I was hoping to clear up. I tried Rubbing compound followed by Polishing Compound this morning and it didn't seem to do anything. What gives? I followed direction on the product.

Thanks[IMG][/IMG]

[Murr1525]

Re: Question about Rubbin and Polishing Compound

Looks like Clear Coat failure to me. No product is going to solve that, only a repaint.

[mb911]

Re: Question about Rubbin and Polishing Compound

Murr -

I have an old 94 car with the beginnings of some clear coat failure too. Nevertheless, I would still like the polish out the rest of the paint.

Would using Ultimate Compound with DA potentially make the clear coat failure even worse by thinning the paint, or would this be such a microscopic amount, that it wouldn't really be a worry?


Silverado-

I have to say, that does look similar to my clear coat failure, so that is likely it. I see you're in Florida, so that is probably not too surprising if the car saw a lot of sun. Good luck with the sale!

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Question about Rubbin and Polishing Compound

Unfortunately, that does indeed look like clear coat failure. More unfortunately, there really isn't much of anything you can do to improve it and the only real solution is a repaint. While clear coat failure can, and often does, look like the typical oxidation everyone is used to seeing on older single stage lacquers it's really not the same thing. Modern clear coats are catalyzed paints and when they seriously oxidize they start to break apart and you can't "put them back together" again. Clear coats can fail in a few different ways though, from extreme UV exposure is only one way. It's also possible to have defects in the painting process that cause them to delaminate from the color coat. Again, with that sort of failure, the only fix is to sand it down and repaint.

mb911, as for the paint on that car of yours with the clear coat failure, if you want to buff out the other panels go ahead and do so. You're not going to remove much paint at all. Heck, you can even give it a go on the failing areas, but don't expect much good to come from it. And any good that might come from it is going to be very, very short lived.

[Murr1525]

Re: Question about Rubbin and Polishing Compound

Murr -

I have an old 94 car with the beginnings of some clear coat failure too. Nevertheless, I would still like the polish out the rest of the paint.

Would using Ultimate Compound with DA potentially make the clear coat failure even worse by thinning the paint, or would this be such a microscopic amount, that it wouldn't really be a worry?

I wouldnt want to work it too hard, and perhaps make it flake from pressure/pushing on it.

If it is just beginning, and not a concern, the longer it goes without flaking the better.

[Shawn T.]

Re: Question about Rubbin and Polishing Compound

In all honesty, if on a budget, I would go ahead and use UC to chew off as much of the dead paint as possible then coat it with Opti-Coat. That may buy you some time before going for a repaint.